Sexiest TV Shows

The 10 Most Sexually Explicit TV Shows Ever Aired

Say what you like about 2016, there was no shortage of bare skin on the telly. Maybe we needed the distraction. With high-end escort drama The Girlfriend Experience getting its debut series, reality porn contest The Sex Factorhaving launching this week, and 17th century sex-fest Versailles getting pulses throbbing, what better excuse to ogle the 10 rudest ever TV shows?

Californication

Air date: Showtime/Netflix, 2007-2014

The comedy-drama’s hedonistic anti-hero Hank Moody (David Duchovny) was an LA-based novelist struggling to overcome his sex addiction – while also suffering from alcoholism, drug issues and writer’s block. In Australia and New Zealand, conservative groups campaigned against Californication’s frequent nudity and strong sexual content, lobbying for a threesome scene to be censored and advertisers to stop sponsoring the show. In a case of life imitating art, Duchovny had treatment for his own sex addiction during production.

Masters Of Sex

Air date: Cinemax, 2012-2013

Like a Mad Men for sex, this smartly stylish period drama tells the true story of gynaecologist Dr William Masters (Michael Sheen) and his assistant Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), who were pioneering researchers into human sexuality during the 1950s and 1960s. Most of the retro dirty deeds are done in the name of science, see. It features vintage vibrators and "Ulysses", the first ever transparent dildo with an attached camera.

A Girl’s Guide To Depravity

Air date: Cinemax, 2012-2013

This cult comedy, based on screenwriter Heather Rutman’s tongue-in-cheek dating blog, followed two Chicago singletons, Lizzie (Sally Golan) and Samantha (Rebecca Blumhagen), as they hopped between bar stools and bedsheets. Each episode of A Girl’s Guide To Depravity was themed around the rules the pair used so they could have fun playing the field but avoid getting hurt. See rule 12: “The best way to get over a guy is to get underneath another guy”. Realistic sex scenes and knowing ROFLs ensued.

Black Sails

Air date: History Channel, 2014-present

This period pirate adventure romp, set in the Bahamas and exec-produced by Michael Bay, is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and is such a hit in the US that seasons two, three and four were commissioned while the first run was still on-air. Brit Toby Stephens stars as Captain Flint but Black Sails’ scenes get stolen by the copious boobs, sex and arrrrrrrr-ses. In one memorable moment, it turns out that the infamous “Black Beard” is a woman named after her pubic hair.

Maison Close

Air date: Sky Arts, 2010-2013

Those frisky Frenchies, hmm? This sumptuous drama was set in a 19th century luxury Paris brothel called Le Paradis. Three contrasting women were the heroines: 35-year-old Vera, nearing the end of her coital career and hoping a rich client becomes her way out; brothel madame Hortense, fending off local criminals; and young newbie Rose, forced into the job while she searches for her ex-prostitute mother. HBO are reportedly developing an English language remake.

Tell Me You Love Me

HBO

Air date: HBO, 2007

This unfairly neglected drama, which had the working title “Sexlife”, lasted just 10 episodes but attracted plenty of attention. It revolved around three couples, all of whom were clients of the same sex therapist May Foster. In turn, the so-called expert struggled with some of the same intimacy issues as her patients. Hand-held shooting gave it a grunge-y documentary feel, as did the raw, authentic sex scenes – which many pundits mistakenly thought were real, rather than acted.

Secret Diary Of A Call Girl

Air date: ITV2, 2007-2011

Based on the blogs by pseudonymous sex worker “Belle de Jour”, this Sex & The City-esque comedy-drama starred former pop princess and Doctor Who companion Billie Piper as high-class London call girl Hannah. She ventured into niche territory like bottle-feeding, farmyard animal noises, sumo-wrestling and, ahem, sploshing. It was surprisingly witty and did well overseas but the Daily Mail didn’t approve. Whodathunk?

Hung

Air date: Channel 4, 2009-11

This cult HBO sitcom – tagline: “It’s hard to make an indecent living” – portrayed Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), a struggling suburban Detroit high school gym teacher who becomes a gigolo to pay the bills. Ray’s enviably well-endowed, hence the show’s sniggery title. Cue trouble with pimps, younger rival male prostitutes and Ray’s attempts to balance a normal life (he’s the father of twin teenagers) with starting up a sex business.

Versailles

Air date: BBC2, June-August 2016

Arriving here amid much hype last summer, this lavish £21m French-Brit-Canadian co-production caused a considerable kerfuffle, thanks to its graphic historic horniness. A decadent drama about the debauched court of King Louis XIV, it’s chock full of royal rumpy, naked nobility, oral sex of both flavours and even a queen with a penchant for dwarves. Tory MPs and family rights campaigners have already complained. Spoilsports.

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